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Wharton Tech Toks (WTT) creates a space for bold, forward-looking tech discussions that enlighten and inspire.
We feature executives, founders, investors, and professors from across the tech industry. We discuss interesting trends, analysis, strategies, and personal stories that are compelling to everyone from MBA students to senior executives. We want to dare to be bold, even if we’re wrong, to push our collective thinking.
For inquiries, contact whartontechtoks@gmail.com
We feature executives, founders, investors, and professors from across the tech industry. We discuss interesting trends, analysis, strategies, and personal stories that are compelling to everyone from MBA students to senior executives. We want to dare to be bold, even if we’re wrong, to push our collective thinking.
For inquiries, contact whartontechtoks@gmail.com
118 Episodes
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In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA ’27) sits down with Clara Ma, CEO and Founder of Ask a Chief of Staff to break down what the Chief of Staff role actually is – and isn’t. Clara shares why it’s become one of the most sought-after roles in tech, the core pillars of the role (culture, operations, and strategy), and how the job changes from Series A to later-stage. From her early days in recruiting to becoming Chief of Staff at AI unicorn Hugging Face, Clara shares how she navigated a non-linear career path to build a thriving community of Chief of Staffs. She offers candid advice on landing your first role, leveraging AI without losing your voice, and how to avoid burning out once you’re in the seat.
In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA '27) sits down with Julia Oberrotman (Wharton MBA '16), Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at Okta. Julia breaks down why identity security is about to get exponentially harder—and more critical—as AI agents start moving money, accessing sensitive data, and operating autonomously across systems. The conversation unpacks Okta's $6B Auth0 acquisition and explains how they're racing to secure AI from the moment it's built.Julia pulls back the curtain on what corporate strategy actually looks like at a high-growth company, offering candid advice for those navigating an AI-transformed world.
In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Debbie Cheng (WG’26) sits down with Carly Price (WEMBA ‘23), Senior Director of Customer & Partner Experience Design at ServiceNow and founder of Liv Labs, a women’s health startup.Carly shares what it takes to lead design at scale across industries from retail and finance to automotive and enterprise SaaS. She opens up about launching Liv Labs and balancing startup life with the Wharton WEMBA program, all while working full-time and raising a family.From building beta branches at JPMorgan Chase to integrating AI into UX at ServiceNow, Carly’s career is a masterclass in creative leadership, strategic thinking, and staying curious.Whether you're a designer, founder, or MBA navigating your next move, this episode is full of real talk, tactical insights, and inspiration.
In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA '27) sits down with Justin Hannah, Senior Director of Marketing Technology and Automation at FanDuel Sports Network. Justin shares his career journey from a 40-person ad tech startup to leading MarTech at Hulu and FanDuel, breaking down the complex world of marketing technology.The conversation explores how customer data platforms and CRM systems power modern marketing, the challenges of multi-touch attribution in a privacy-first world, and FanDuel's innovative approaches to measuring campaign ROI. Justin discusses transitioning from streaming entertainment to real-time sports, balancing aggressive personalization with responsible gaming, and where AI is actually delivering value versus hype in MarTech today.
In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Gorav Menon (Wharton MBA ’27 and co-host of The Linen Suit & Plastic Tie) sits down with Nick Martell of The Best One Yet for a deep dive into how top creators use storytelling, branding, and smart content strategy to shape the future of tech and media. Gorav uncovers Nick’s journey from Robinhood to building an independent media brand, the launch of their new evergreen show The Best Idea Yet, and how podcasts build trust by balancing education, entertainment, and cultural relevance. They also explore where AI enhances creative work—and where it falls short. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of podcasting and the future of business media, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA ‘27) sits down with David DellaPelle, CEO and Co-Founder of Dune Security, to discuss how Dune is modernizing security awareness training through a personalized, AI-driven approach. They explore how Dune moves beyond one-size-fits-all training, the evolving threat landscape, and the importance of integrations across the security stack. David also shares insights into his journey as a founder, advice on building and scaling a team, and his experience growing a cybersecurity company in NYC.
In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Debbie Cheng (Wharton MBA Class of 2026) sits down with Leon Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of BetterBasket. Leon shares his journey from launching grocery delivery operations at Uber to co-founding BetterBasket, a YC-backed startup helping grocers use data to optimize pricing in the face of inflation, digital transformation, and legacy systems.Leon also opens up about his decision to take a leave of absence from Wharton to join Y Combinator’s Winter '24 cohort, what he's learned about hiring and building a startup culture, and why challenging the status quo is at the heart of entrepreneurship.Whether you're curious about retail tech, YC, or life as a founder-MBA, this one’s full of insights.
In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Debbie Cheng (Wharton MBA Class of 2026) sits down with Avanthika Ramesh, Senior Director of Product Management for Agentforce at Salesforce (Wharton MBA Class of 2025). They dive into Avanthika’s career journey from engineering at Berkeley to building AI-driven products at Salesforce, including her work on chatbots, Web3, and generative agents.Avanthika shares insights on what it takes to succeed in product management, how to lead cross-functional teams, and why she chose to pursue her MBA while continuing to work full-time. From evolving chatbots into intelligent AI agents to balancing corporate keynotes with Wharton coursework, her story is packed with lessons on leadership, learning, and navigating ambiguity.
In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Jim Alderson-Smith, Managing Director at Crux, to unpack how Crux is transforming capital markets for clean energy. They explore the company’s role in facilitating efficient financing through transferable tax credits and debt marketplaces, aiming to make clean energy funding more liquid and accessible. The conversation dives into the evolution of tax equity financing, Crux’s strategy for building a broad network of developers, corporates, and intermediaries, and how the platform reduces friction in traditionally complex financial transactions. Key themes include navigating political uncertainty in climate policy, driving inclusivity in deal sizes, and advice for MBAs looking to break into climate tech. Tune in for a deep dive into how fintech innovation is powering the clean energy transition in the U.S.
In this episode Tanika Mehra interviews Tanay Kothari, Co-founder & CEO of Wispr Flow, an AI-powered voice-first productivity tool designed to help professionals communicate faster and more naturally. Wispr Flow is pioneering a screen-free, voice-first future where professionals can dictate messages, edit text with natural voice commands, and boost productivity 3x faster than typing. Backed by NEA, 8VC, and top AI leaders, Wispr Flow has raised $26M to redefine the way we interact with technology.
Join us for this episode with Dr. Craig Joseph, Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Global and co-author of Designing for Health. Craig shares his journey from practicing pediatrics to becoming a national thought leader in healthcare IT and clinical informatics. We dive into his experience with EHRs like Epic and Cerner, the challenges of designing tech doctors actually want to use, and where AI fits into the future of patient care.This is a great episode if you're exploring careers at the intersection of medicine and technology or curious about human-centered design in healthcare. If you enjoy the show, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a comment!
Join us for this episode with Leigh Engel, Senior Product Manager for Enterprise AI at NVIDIA. Leigh’s journey spans media, consulting, and big tech firms like Apple and WPP before landing in product leadership at one of the world’s top AI companies. We explore her career pivots, how she balances innovation with user-centered design, and her take on evaluating AI models like GPT-4 and Llama for enterprise use. This is a great episode if you're curious about breaking into AI product management or understanding the future of generative AI in business. If you enjoy the episode, share it with a friend and leave us a comment!Please note: The views expressed in this episode are Leigh’s alone and do not reflect those of her employer, NVIDIA.
In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Ryan Graciano, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Credit Karma to discuss the story behind Credit Karma, exploring how the company disrupted personal finance by offering free credit scores and personalized financial insights. We dive into the challenges and opportunities of building trust in the finance sector, Credit Karma’s innovative approach to user-centric design, and their strategy for scaling a fintech business sustainably. Key questions include how to effectively balance user experience with data privacy and what future trends might shape personal financial management. Tune in for valuable insights into the evolution and future of fintech from one of the industry's pioneering companies.
Francesca Migliori is a global digital and e-commerce executive with expertise in omnichannel strategies, CRM, and startup advisement. Join us in this exciting episode as Debbie Cheng (Wharton Class of 2026) and Francesca Migliori discuss her journey from Wharton to investment banking to leadership roles across various organizations including Gucci and Loro Piana. She shares riveting stories leading digital transformation initiatives that enhance customer engagement and market expansion, as well as her new adventure driving operational excellence and digital innovation in publishing as COO of Lost River Press.
Join us for this episode with Elizabeth Pemmerl, Chief Revenue Officer at GitHub. Elizabeth shares her journey from early roles in marketing and PR to leading revenue strategy at one of the world’s most influential developer platforms. We discuss her decade-long rise through GitHub, how the company is leveraging AI, and what it takes to lead with both ambition and balance. This is a must-listen if you’re curious about breaking into tech leadership, scaling within an org, or understanding how AI is shaping enterprise strategy. If you enjoy the show, share it with a friend and drop us a comment!
In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Ian Samuels, Founding Partner at New System Ventures, to discuss how the firm backs ambitious founders building solutions for a decarbonized future. Ian shares his perspective on investing in hard tech, the role of government in accelerating climate innovation, and why now is the moment for deep, systems-level change. The conversation covers topics like climate infrastructure, the intersection of policy and capital, and what it takes to scale breakthrough technologies. Tune in for a compelling discussion on how visionary venture capital can help catalyze the transition to a more sustainable and resilient economy.
Please join Julien Guiot for this episode with Vas Natarajan, a partner at Accel, a leading global venture firm. In this episode, we dive into Vas’ background, his path into venture, and more specific questions around how Vas spots lasting value in the AI space or how startups can overcome the distribution advantages of incumbents today. Additionally, we discuss how to identify strong founders and what unique traits B2B founders need to have to be successful. This is a fascinating episode from a leading investor in the infrastructure and AI space so be sure to give it a listen.
In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Jake Wieseneck, Principal at Maniv Mobility, to explore the firm's strategic approach to investing in transportation innovation and mobility technologies. Jake shares insights into how Maniv identifies and supports early-stage startups that are digitizing and decarbonizing the movement of people and goods. They discuss key trends shaping the future of mobility, including advancements in electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and urban transportation solutions. The conversation also delves into the challenges and opportunities within the evolving automotive landscape and how strategic investments can accelerate the transition to cleaner, smarter transportation systems. Tune in for an engaging discussion on the intersection of venture capital and the sustainable transformation of global transportation.
Join us for this episode with Claire Lecarpentier, Director of Product Strategy & Operations for Platform AI at ServiceNow. After experiences in consulting and corporate venture, Claire transitioned to Product Strategy at leading enterprise service provider ServiceNow. This is a great episode if you are interested in learning how to transition from consulting or banking into the technology industry, especially at AI-driven firms. If you like the show, make sure to share it with a friend, and feel free to leave a comment, too!
In this episode, we sit down with Pete Schork, a Principal at the Broadscale Group, to discuss the firm's unique approach to investing in climate, energy, and industrial solutions. Pete explains how Broadscale strategically leverages partnerships with large corporations and family offices to scale impactful climate technologies, highlighting their investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, renewable energy financing, and decarbonization platforms. In this episode we explore key questions like what makes corporate-startup partnerships effective and how capital-intensive businesses offer unique opportunities in climate tech. Tune in for an insightful conversation on how strategic partnerships and thoughtful venture investment are powering the clean energy revolution.
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really really good and on point. incentive win-win-win programs are the only way forward. super excited for this company. thank you for this interview.